Ukrainian Reserves Have Begun Rolling Back Russia's Latest Pokrovsk Infiltration

After two days of concern about Russian infiltrations around Pokrovsk, elite Ukrainian reserve corps have begun rolling up scattered Russian groups and closing the gaps in the line they briefly exploited. 

The two most important lessons from this episode are that although their troop strength remains below that of the Russians, the Ukrainians do possess reserves precisely for situations like this. The second is that, as has been reported multiple times since the start of the year, the Kremlin no longer possesses sufficient troops to exploit any infiltrations or even breakthroughs because they are completely out of military vehicles and no long has enough men, given the scale of their casualties. JL

Tetyana Oliynik reports in Ukraine Pravda and David Axe reports in Trench Art:

Azov guardsmen are beginning to roll back the Russian infiltration around Pokrovsk. The 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, after taking up a defence line on the Dobropillia front and the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road, has reported that Russia is suffering heavy losses. "151 occupiers have been killed. 70  have been wounded. In addition, eight Russian servicemen have been taken prisoner during this period." The fighting is ongoing. The nature of the fighting along the 700-mile, drone-patrolled front line of Russia’s 42-month wider war on Ukraine precludes such satisfying images and clear narratives.

The 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, after taking up a defence line on the Dobropillia front and the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road, has reported that Russia is suffering heavy losses.

Source: 1st Azov Corps on Facebook

Quote: "During the operations conducted by the First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, together with adjacent and subordinate units, the enemy is suffering significant losses.

As a result of fighting over the past two days within the corps' area of responsibility, 151 occupiers have been killed. Over 70 invaders have been wounded. In addition, eight Russian servicemen have been taken prisoner during this period."

Details: The corps added that the fighting is ongoing. Operations are being conducted in settlements within the area of responsibility of the First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine and the Donetsk Operational and Tactical Group.

Background:

• On 11 August, DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, reported that Russian troops had intensified their advance near Dobropillia in recent days, particularly attempting to secure a foothold near the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road. The analysts highlighted this advance on their interactive map of hostilities in Ukraine, marking it with two wedges near Dobropillia.
• The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Ukrainian defence forces are taking effective measures to stop Russia's advance on the Dobropillia and Pokrovsk fronts.
• The First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine took up a designated defence position on the Pokrovsk front a few days ago. Information available to UP indicates that the area in question is in the direction of Dobropillia and the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road.
• On the night of 12-13 August, DeepState reported that Russian forces had advanced in several settlements in Donetsk Oblast, while Ukrainian defenders pushed the Russians back in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Last week, a few Russian troops appeared some nine miles behind the ostensible front line northeast of the fortress city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.

It was, on its face, the most dramatic Russian infiltration of Ukrainian territory in months, and an apparent bold move by Russian forces aiming to surround and cut off Pokrovsk.

Yesterday, the Ukrainian national guard’s 1st Azov Corps—several elite brigades under a new command structure—deployed around the incursion. Move met counter-move.

“The coming days will show whether this penetration can be contained,” explained Tatarigami, the founder of the Ukrainian Frontelligence Insight analysis group. Indeed, there’s some evidence the Azov guardsmen are beginning to roll back the Russian advance.

They may even have taken a prisoner.

But don’t expect dramatic videos of Ukrainian troops assaulting Russian positions the their new—and highly exposed—salient northeast of Pokrovsk. Don’t expect that any more than anyone expected dramatic videos of Russian infiltrators racing across the landscape in some decisive maneuver.

The nature of the fighting along the 700-mile, drone-patrolled front line of Russia’s 42-month wider war on Ukraine precludes such satisfying images and clear narratives.